Engaging LEAs in Access to...Apr 11, 2017 · Step 2. Identify equity lab lead, design team, potential partners, and champions. Step 3. Create an equity lab work plan. Step 4. Identify

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Equity Labs: Engaging LEAs in Ensuring Equitable Access to

Excellent Educators

April 11, 2017

Agenda

10minutes Welcome and Overview

40minutes Equity Lab Concept: Lessons Learned from Connecticut and Missouri

20minutes Introduction to the Equity Lab Toolkit

5minutes Closing Remarks

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Welcome!

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Objectives

The purpose of today’s webinar is to:

• Expose State leaders to the concept of the equity lab;

• Help States understand how to implement equity labs; and

• Introduce States to a toolkitthey can use to plan and implement equity labs.

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Do Now

Please answer the following using the poll on the screen:

What has your State done to engage LEAs in theimplementation of theStateEquity Plan?

Feel free to use the chat function to ask questions or make comments during the webinar.

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Educator Equity Plans

• In 2014, the Department required each State to submit educator equity plans, describing how the State would ensure that poor and minority students are not taught at higher rates than other students by inexperienced, unqualified, or out-of-field teachers.

• The December 2015 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) – the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) – maintains a focus on students’ equitable access to excellent educators.

• Section 1111(g)(1)(B) requires a State to describe “how low-income and minority children enrolled in [Title I schools] are not served at disproportionate rates by ineffective, out-of-field, or inexperienced teachers, and the measures the State educational agency will use to evaluate and publicly report the progress of the State educational agency with respect to such description.”

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EASN and Equity Labs

Challenge: State educational agencies (SEAs) are charged with the development andimplementationof plans but success inimplementing some plannedstrategies depends onwork of local educational agencies (LEAs).

Question: How do SEAs effectively engage their LEAs in the implementation of strategies the State has developed to improve access to excellent educators?

Possible Solution: Equity labs.

A State-led convening of district leaders and stakeholders designed to give SEA staff the opportunity to:

• Share the purpose of State educator equity plans

• Collect feedback on State-level strategies

• Facilitate LEA-level equity planning • Provide LEAs access to critical friends

and a network of colleagues for planning andimplementation

Who’s hosted an equity lab?

Connecticut Missouri Mississippi Ohio

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State Spotlights

Missouri Andrea Dixon-Seahorn, Special

Consultant for Equitable Education

Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education’s Office of

Educator Quality

Connecticut

Kim Wachtelhausen, Education Consultant

Connecticut State Department of Education’s Bureau of Educator

Effectiveness

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Equity Lab Content and Discussion

State panelistswill respond tosix prompts:

• What were your State’s objectives for holding an equity lab?

• How did your State plan its equity lab?

• What were highlights from your State’s equity lab?

• What went well and what didn’t?

• What tips would you give other States as they plan and implement their own labs?

• What’s next for your State related to your equity lab work? How are you maintaining momentum from the work started at your lab(s)?

Please use the chat log toask questions or make comments during the discussion.

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Discussion/Q&A

• Whatwere your State’s objectives for holding an equity lab?

• How did your State plan its equity lab(s)?

• Whatwere highlights from your State’s equity lab(s)?

• Q&A

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Discussion/Q&A

• What went well and what didn’t?

• Whattips would you give other States as they plan and implement their own labs?

• What’s nextfor your State related toyour equity lab work? How are you maintaining momentum from the work started at your lab(s)?

• Q&A


Tips from Missouri

• Collaborate with Technical Assistance Providers in the equity lab planning, implementation, and/or evaluation process.

• Garner support for the equity lab from other offices within the State Department of Education.

• Start with a pilot group of 5-7 invited districts to participate in the equity lab.


Tips from Connecticut • Determine who is critical to be in the room. Make

phone calls to personalize the invitation beyond the initial invite.

• Lay out the organization of the day and the rationale as part of the agenda. Recognize and plan for district team work, but place value on input from other education partners in attendance and provide opportunities for cross collaborations.

• Be realistic about outputs regarding action planning. Create a simple collectible that will contribute to determining next steps for the DOE.


Introduction to the Equity Lab Toolkit

As we review the toolkit, we’d like your feedback:

• How would this toolkit impact your State’s willingness/ability to host an equity lab?

• What additional information or resourceswould be helpful to better support a State planning an equity lab?

• Have you developed any tools that we should consider for inclusion?

APRIL 2017

Please use the chat log toask questions or make comments.


Purpose and Content of Toolkit

Purpose:The toolkit offers a step-by-step guide for the design and implementation of a successful equity lab

Contents: • Summaries of four States’ labs • A detailed 9-step approach to designing, implementing, and

debriefing an equity lab

• Tools, including sample measures for equity lab outcomes, a sample work plan, a sample debrief session tool, and sample surveys to get participant feedback and plan next steps


The Toolkit Offers a 9-StepProcess

Toolkit Step Action

Step 1 Decidei fa nequityl abisr ightf ory ourS tate. Step 2 Identify equity lab lead, design team, potential partners, and champions. Step 3 Create an equity lab work plan. Step 4 Identify desired outcomes for the equity lab. Step 5 Identify the date, location, and participants. Step 6 Create and implement a communication and engagement strategy. Step 7 Design equity lab and create agenda, activities, and materials. Step 8 Train presenters and facilitators. Step 9 Debrief, reflect, and plan forward.


Quick Start Guide—Steps 1 and2


Step 1: Decide if an equity lab is right for your State


Step 2: Identify equity lab lead, design team, potential partners, and champions


Step 3: Create an equity lab work plan


Sample Equity LabWorkplan


Step 4: Identify desired outcomes for the equity lab


Identifying Equity Lab Outcomes Tool


Sample Equity Lab Measures for Outcomes

Outcomes

Increased awareness of work the State has been doing and plans to do to promote equitable access to excellent educators.

Increased understanding of the key components in the State equity plan.

Measures

#o f participantsw ho downloadt he State equity plan following the Equity Lab

#o f participantsw ho participatei n the Equity Lab

#o f participantsw ho cani dentify educational inequitiesi nt heS tate and the SEA’s work to address them

#o f participantsw ho cana rticulate the key components of the State equitypl an

Data Collection Method

Website analytics

Document review of participant list

§ Survey § Focus Group § Interview

§ Survey § Focus Group § Interview § Observation of participants’

related discussions and questions


Sample Equity Lab Measures for Outcomes Outcomes Measures Data Collection Method

Completed district action plans that #o f completeddi strict actionpl ans Document review of district align to thestrategies in theState action plans equity plan and address local root #o f completeddi strict actionpl ans Document review and analysis causes. thata lign to the State equity plan of alignment of district action

plansa ndS tateequi ty plan Articulated immediate action steps #o f participantsw ho articulate § Survey to address educational inequities. immediate action steps that indicate a § Focus Group

senseo f urgency § Interview § Observation of participants’

sharingo ut of immediate next stepsa ndr elated discussions

#pa rticipantsw ho takei mmediate § Survey action within 1-3m onthso f anE quity § Focus Group Lab § Interview

§ Document review of district action plans

Increased number of partnerships #o f participantsa ndo ther key § Documentation of partner with equity-focused organizations stakeholders who reach out to offer outreach and other visibleand influential helpt o theS EA organizations in the State.


Step 5: Identify the date, location, and participants


Step 6: Create and implement a communication and engagement strategy


Step 7: Design equity lab and create agenda, activities, and materials


Step 8: Train presenters and facilitators


Step 9: Debrief, reflect, and plan forward


Sample DebriefSessionTool


Equity Lab Toolkit Feedback

• How would this toolkit impact your State’s willingness/ability to host an equity lab?

• What additional information or resources would be helpful to better support a State planning an equity lab?

• Have you developed any tools that we should consider for inclusion?

Please use the chat log toaddress these questions, toask questions, or to make comments about the Equity Lab Toolkit.


Closing Remarks

Thank you for your participation!

Please use the chat log:

Are you considering implementing an equity lab in your State?

Special thanks to Andrea and Kim for sharing their experiences!


Thank You!


Engaging LEAs in Access to...Apr 11, 2017 · Step 2. Identify equity lab lead, design team, potential partners, and champions. Step 3. Create an equity lab work plan. Step 4. Identify

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